Comment EI-2101
Received or sent (printed as 6/1/2006)
Coal trains are the worst offenders of environmental sound pollution! This is caused by their design. Each car is a sounding box that amplifies the flat spots on its wheels. The flat spots are caused when the train begins to move before the brakes have released. It is my understanding that the railroad is supposed to inspect and make repairs every 1500 hours. It is also my understanding that there are monitors on the rails that alerts the operators to these defects. It is apparent from living in Cassville, WI., that this responsibility is being neglected. I am sure if this is the case here, it is elsewhere. I have just heard that the city of Dubuque, IA. wants the coal trains rerouted to the Wisconsin side of the river. There is talk of a new coal-fired plant in Cassville to be served by rail. If Dubuque’s wishes are granted, I assume that more coal trains will come through Cassville. We now have 50-60 trains a day, I don’t know how we can live with more. The trains can be heard long before and after they have passed through town. The rumble of neglect! The whistles are another problem. Mandated by law, even though we enjoy full visibility crossings, some engineers are respectful, others seem to enjoy blowing the whistle the length of town, 12:00 midnight, 3:00 am. I believe in rail transportation to relieve highway congestion, but I believe the railroads must come into the 21st century and quiet down their act. Furthermore, I believe time is money, but I believe that no surface transportation should travel faster that the ability of the operator to stop within his sightline. Respectfully, William Thibodeau
Submitted by: William Thibodeau · Cassville, Wisconsin
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-34177/comment/EI-2101 · back to the docket sheet